Image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an image reading apparatus, a magnetic shielding member suppresses interference of an electromagnetic wave for power supply or an electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of ID information that would otherwise propagate to a reading unit with a carrier cable of the reading unit and the like. Thus, even if an ID-information obtaining unit obtains ID information of an electronic tag of an RFID card while an image read surface of the RFID card is being imaged by the reading unit, an influence of the electromagnetic wave for power supply, the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the ID information, or both over the reading unit can be suppressed. With this, even if pickup image data representing the image read surface of the RFID card and the ID information of the electronic tag are simultaneously obtained, the obtained pickup image data representing the image read surface of the RFID card can be of high quality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that imagesa Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, RFID cards with Identification (ID) information storedtherein have become prevalent for use, such as a driver's license.

On a surface of an RFID card, information about the owner of this RFIDcard and other information are recorded, for example.

Meanwhile, the RFID card has incorporated therein a tag with IDinformation stored therein. When an electromagnetic wave for powersupply is applied to the RFID card from a transmitting and receivingunit provided to a tag reader or the like, for example, anID-information transmitting unit provided to the RFID card transmits theID information of the tag with an electromagnetic wave for transmissionand reception of the ID information. The electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information transmitted from theRFID card is received by the transmitting and receiving unit provided tothe tag reader or the like, for example. Further, the ID information ofthe tag is obtained by an ID-information obtaining unit provided to thetag reader or the like, for example.

Conventionally, technologies have been suggested for obtaining, from anRFID card placed on a card mounting surface of an image readingapparatus, both pickup image data representing an image read surface ofthe RFID card on a card mounting surface side and ID information storedin a tag of the RFID card. One example of such technologies is disclosedin Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2005-182170. Inan image reading apparatus disclosed in the above patent application,when the image read surface of the RFID card placed on the card mountingsurface is imaged by a reading unit, a pickup image signal is outputfrom that reading unit, and pickup image data based on this pickup imagesignal is generated by an image-data generating unit. Also in this imagereading apparatus, in addition to generation of pickup image data, IDinformation of the tag of the RFID card is obtained in a manner similarto that explained above by using the electromagnetic wave for powersupply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception ofthe ID information. As such, in the image reading apparatus disclosed inthe above patent application mentioned above, the pickup image datarepresenting the image read surface of the RFID card and the IDinformation of the tag can both be obtained by a single apparatus.

In more detail, in the image reading apparatus disclosed in the abovepatent application mentioned above, when the image read surface of theRFID card is imaged by the reading unit, to prevent an influence of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply, the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information, or both for readingthe ID information of the tag over the pickup image signal output fromthe reading unit, a transmission coil, which configures a transmittingand receiving unit that transmits the electromagnetic wave for powersupply to the RFID card, is set to an inactive state. As a result, whilethe reading unit is imaging the image read surface of the RFID card, theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information are not transmitted andreceived between the ID-information transmitting unit of the RFID cardand the transmitting and receiving unit of the image reading apparatus.Therefore, the electromagnetic wave for power supply and theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation do not have an influence over the pickup image signalrepresenting the image read surface of the RFID card, thereby achievinga high-quality pickup image of the image read surface of the RFID cardwithout an influence of the electromagnetic wave for power supply andthe electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation over the pickup image data representing the image readsurface of the RFID card.

Here, in obtaining both of the pickup image data representing the imageread surface of the RFID card and the ID information of the tag, thereis a need for imaging the image read surface of the RFID card andobtaining the ID information of the tag simultaneously, thereby reducingtime required for obtaining both of the pickup image data representingthe image read surface of the RFID card and the ID information of thetag.

However, if imaging of the image read surface of the RFID card andobtainment of the ID information of the tag are performedsimultaneously, at least either one of the electromagnetic wave forpower supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and receptionof the ID information will have an influence over the pickup imagesignal representing the image read surface of the RFID card. For thisreason, if imaging of the image read surface of the RFID card andobtainment of the ID information of the tag are performedsimultaneously, at least either one of the electromagnetic wave forpower supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and receptionof the ID information will also have an influence over the pickup imagedata representing the image read surface of the RFID card, therebydegrading the quality of the pickup image of the image read surface ofthe RFID card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve theproblems in the conventional technology.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image readingapparatus includes a light source that emits light toward a cardmounting surface where an RFID card is placed, the RFID card havingincorporated therein a tag having ID information stored therein and anID-information transmitting unit that receives an electromagnetic wavefor power supply and transmits the ID information with anelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation; a reading unit that images, based on the light from thelight source, an image read surface of the RFID card on a card mountingsurface side when the RFID card is placed on the card mounting surfaceand outputs a pickup image signal representing the image read surface ofthe RFID card; an image-data generating unit that generates pickup imagedata of the image read surface of the RFID card based on the outputpickup image signal; a transmitting and receiving unit that transmitsthe electromagnetic wave for power supply and receives theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation; an ID-information obtaining unit that obtains the IDinformation based on the received electromagnetic wave for transmissionand reception of the ID information; and an interference suppressingunit that suppresses interference of at least either one of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information with the reading unit.Further, when the RFID card is imaged by the reading unit, theID-information obtaining unit obtains the ID information.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical andindustrial significance of this invention will be better understood byreading the following detailed description of presently preferredembodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically depicting an image readingapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a main portion of the image readingapparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of a main portion of an image readingapparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views each depicting a main portion ofan image reading apparatus according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a relation between a propagation areaand a suppression area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the image reading apparatus according to the presentinvention are explained in detail below based on the drawings. Note thatthe following embodiments are not meant to restrict the presentinvention.

An image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention is explained below. FIG. 1 is a block diagramschematically depicting the image reading apparatus according to thefirst embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a main portion of theimage reading apparatus.

An image reading apparatus 10 includes a light source 12, a reading unit14, an image-data generating unit 16, a transmission and receptionantenna unit 18 as a transmitting and receiving unit, an ID-informationobtaining unit 20, a magnetic shielding member 22 as an interferencesuppressing unit, interfaces 24, an additional-information input unit26, and first and second controlling units 28 and 30 as an encryptingunit. In the first embodiment, it is assumed for explanation that theimage reading apparatus 10 is an image reading apparatus of a flatbedtype.

Here, an RFID card 32 has incorporated therein an electronic tag 34 as atag and an antenna coil 36 as an ID-information transmitting unit. Theelectronic tag 34 is a so-called IC (integrated circuit) chip. In thiselectronic tag 34, for example, information about the owner of this RFIDcard 32, that is, ID information, is stored in advance. Also, theantenna coil 36 is connected to the electronic tag 34. This antenna coil36 receives an electromagnetic wave for power supply transmitted fromthe transmission and reception antenna unit 18 and transmits the IDinformation of the electronic tag 34 with an electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information to the transmission andreception antenna unit 18. Here, the RFID card 32 is placed on atransparent, colorless card mounting surface 38 provided to a housing ofthe image reading apparatus 10. Note that a member denoted by areference numeral 39 in FIG. 1 is a lid member that covers the cardmounting surface 38. This lid member 39 is formed in a rectangularshape, for example. The card mounting surface 38 side of the lid member39 is white, and has a function of serving as a white reference plate.

The light source 12 emits light toward the card mounting surface 38.That is, when the RFID card 32 is placed on the card mounting surface38, light is emitted toward an image read surface 32 a of the RFID card32 on the card mounting surface 38. The light source 12 is incorporatedin a carriage 40. When the RFID card 32 is placed on the card mountingsurface 38, the light source 12 faces the RFID card 32 across the cardmounting surface 38. The light source 12 is formed in a line shape in awidth direction of the card mounting surface 38 (a direction parallel tothe card mounting surface 38 and orthogonal to a direction indicated byan arrow A depicted in FIG. 1). With the movement of the carriage 40,the light source 12 emits light to the entire area of the card mountingsurface 38. Therefore, when the RFID card 32 is placed on the cardmounting surface 38, light is emitted to the image read surface 32 a ofthe RFID card 32. The light source 12 is driven by a light-sourcedriving circuit 42. The light-source driving circuit 42 is connected tothe first controlling unit 28 incorporated in a controlling apparatus44. The light-source driving circuit 42 is controlled by the firstcontrolling unit 28. Therefore, light emission from the light source 12is controlled by the first controlling unit 28.

The reading unit 14 images the image read surface 32 a of the RFID card32 on the card mounting surface 38. When the RFID card 32 is placed onthe card mounting surface 38, the reading unit 14 images the image readsurface 32 a of the RFID card 32 on the card mounting surface 38 sidebased on the light from the light source 12, and outputs an pickup imagesignal representing the image read surface 32 of the RFID card 32. Thisreading unit 14 includes an image pickup device 14 a and a carrier cable14 b.

The image pickup device 14 a scans the entire area of the card mountingsurface 38. The image pickup device 14 a is incorporated in the carriage40. When the RFID card 32 is placed on the card mounting surface 38, theimage pickup device 14 a faces the RFID card 32 across the card mountingsurface 38. The image pickup device 14 a includes a Charge CoupledDevice (CCD) image pickup device, for example. Alternatively, the imagepickup device 14 a may include a complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS) image pickup device. This image pickup device 14 a is arranged ina line shape in a width direction of the card mounting surface 38, forexample. With the movement of the carriage 40, the image pickup device14 a scans the entire area of the card mounting surface 38. Therefore,when the RFID card 32 is placed on the card mounting surface 38, lightfrom the light source 12 reflected from the image read surface 32 of theRFID card 32, that is, reflected light, is incident to the image pickupdevice 14 a. Therefore, from the image pickup device 14 a, a pickupimage signal for each exposure corresponding to the entire area of thecard mounting surface 38 including information about the image readsurface 32 a is output. As such, the image pickup device 14 a images theimage read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 based on the light from thelight source 12, and outputs a pickup image signal representing theimage read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32. The image pickup device 14a is connected to the first controlling unit 28. For the image pickupdevice 14 a, the first controlling unit 28 controls an exposureinterval, for example.

The carrier cable 14 b transmits the pickup image signal output from theimage pickup device 14 a to the image-data generating unit 16. Thecarrier cable 14 b is formed of an electrical wire, such as a copperwire, for example.

The image-data generating unit 16 generates pickup image datarepresenting the image read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 based onthe pickup image signal output from the image pickup device 14 a. In thefirst embodiment, the image-data generating unit 16 generates entirepickup image data based on scanning over the entire area of the cardmounting surface 38 by the image pickup device 14 a. The image-datagenerating unit 16 generates pickup image data for each exposurecorresponding to the information about the entire area of the cardmounting surface 38 including the information about the image readsurface 32 a of the RFID card 32. Based on the generated pickup imagedata for each exposure, the image-data generating unit 16 generatesentire pickup image data. With the position of the RFID card 32 withrespect to the card mounting surface 38 is specified by a positionspecifying unit not shown, the image-data generating unit 16 maygenerate pickup image data corresponding to the image read surface 32 aof the RFID card 32 from the entire pickup image data. That is, theimage-data generating unit 16 may crop the entire pickup image data togenerate pickup image data. By outputting the generated entire pickupimage data to a personal computer 48 connected via a first interfaceunit 46 to the image reading apparatus 10, this cropping may beperformed by the personal computer 48. The image data generated by theimage-data generating unit 16 is temporarily stored in a first memory50. That is, this first memory 50 serves as a buffer. The first memory50 is a non-volatile memory, such as a flash memory, for example.

The transmission and reception antenna unit 18 obtains the IDinformation from the electronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 by using anelectromagnetic wave. In the first embodiment, the transmission andreception antenna unit 18 is provided inside a housing including thecard mounting surface 38 of the image reading apparatus 10. Thetransmission and reception antenna unit 18 includes a transmission coil18 a and a reception coil 18 b.

The transmission coil 18 a transmits an electromagnetic wave for powersupply. In the first embodiment, the transmission coil 18 a is inside ofthe housing of the image reading apparatus 10 and is mounted on the cardmounting surface 38 on the carriage 40 side, for example. In the firstembodiment, on the carriage 40 side of the card mounting surface 38, awire, such as a copper wire, forming a coil is wound one or more timesso as to surround the edge of the card mounting surface 38. With this,the transmission coil 18 a is mounted on the card mounting surface 38.Thus, when the RFID card 32 is placed on the card mounting surface 38,the transmission coil 18 a can surround the RFID card 32. Thetransmission coil 18 a transmits an electromagnetic wave for powersupply toward the card mounting surface 38. When the RFID card 32 isplaced on the card mounting surface 38, the electromagnetic wave forpower supply transmitted from the transmission coil 18 a is received bythe antenna coil 36 incorporated in the RFID card 32 and, with thisreceived electromagnetic wave for power supply, the electronic tag 34operates. The transmission coil 18 a is driven by a transmission drivingcircuit 52. The transmission driving circuit 52 is connected to thesecond controlling unit 30 incorporated in the controlling apparatus 44.This transmission driving circuit 52 is controlled by the secondcontrolling unit 30. Therefore, transmission of the electromagnetic wavefor power supply by the transmission coil 18 a is controlled by thesecond controlling unit 30.

The reception coil 18 b receives an electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information. By receiving thiselectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation, the reception coil 18 b receives a signal transmittedtoward the reception coil 18 b, that is, the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 incorporated in the RFID card 32. In the firstembodiment, the reception coil 18 b is inside of the housing of theimage reading apparatus 10 and is mounted on the card mounting surface38 on the carriage 40 side, for example. In the first embodiment, on thecarriage 40 side of the card mounting surface 38, a wire, such as acopper wire, forming a coil is wound one or more times so as to surroundthe edge of the card mounting surface 38. With this, the reception coil18 b is mounted on the card mounting surface 38 so as to be positionedoutside of the transmission coil 18 a. Thus, when the RFID card 32 isplaced on the card mounting surface 38, the reception coil 18 b cansurround the RFID card 32. As explained above, the reception coil 18 bis mounted on the carriage 40 side of the card mounting surface 38 so asto surround the edge of the card mounting surface 38 and, irrespectivelyof the positions of the electronic tag 34 on the card mounting surface38 in the width direction and the orthogonal direction of the cardmounting surface 38, transmits a signal based on the ID informationstored in the electronic tag 34 from the antenna coil 36 of the RFIDcard 32. Therefore, the reception coil 18 b can receive the signaltransmitted from the electronic tag 34.

When the RFID card 32 is placed on the card mounting surface 38, theelectronic tag 34 driven by the electromagnetic wave for power supplytransmitted from the transmission coil 18 a transmits a signal based onthe ID information stored in the electronic tag 34 via the antenna coil36 of the RFID card 32. Thus, the reception coil 18 b can receive thesignal transmitted from the electronic tag 34. The reception coil 18 bis connected to a receiving circuit 54. The signal received by thereception coil 18 b is subjected to filtering, amplification, and othersat the receiving circuit 54. The receiving circuit 54 is connected tothe ID-information obtaining unit 20 incorporated in the controllingapparatus 44. The signal received by the reception coil 18 b andsubjected to filtering, amplification, and others is input to theID-information obtaining unit 20 of the controlling apparatus 44.

The ID-information obtaining unit 20 obtains the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 based on the electromagnetic wavefor transmission and reception of the ID information received by thereception coil 18 b. The ID-information obtaining unit 20 is connectedto the transmission driving circuit 52 via the second controlling unit30, outputting a transmission-coil driving control signal to thetransmission driving circuit 52. The second controlling unit 30 drivesthe transmission driving circuit 52 based on the transmission-coildriving control signal output from the ID-information obtaining unit 20.Thus, the second controlling unit 30 drives the reception coil 18 b.Also, the ID-information obtaining unit 20 is connected to the receivingcircuit 54. To this ID-information obtaining unit 20, a signal receivedby the reception coil 18 b and output from the receiving circuit 54 isinput. The ID-information obtaining unit 20 receives an input of thesignal received by the reception coil 18 b. Based on the signal receivedby the reception coil 18 b, the ID-information obtaining unit 20 obtainsthe ID information of the electronic tag 34. The ID information obtainedby the ID-information obtaining unit 20 is stored in a second memory 56by the second controlling unit 30. This second memory 56 includes anon-volatile memory, such as a flash memory, for example. TheID-information obtaining unit 20 as explained above obtains the IDinformation of the electronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 when thereading unit 14 images the RFID card 32. In more detail, while the imagepickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 is imaging the image readsurface 32 a of the RFID card 32, the transmission coil 18 a of thetransmission and reception antenna unit 18 transmits an electromagneticwave for power supply. With this, the reception coil 18 b of thetransmission and reception antenna unit 18 receives the electromagneticwave for transmission and reception of the ID information transmittedfrom the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32. Based on thiselectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation received by the reception coil 18 b, the ID-informationobtaining unit 20 obtains the ID information of the electronic tag 34 ofthe RFID card 32.

The magnetic shielding member 22 suppresses interference of at leasteither one of the electromagnetic wave for power supply transmitted fromthe transmission coil 18 a and the electromagnetic wave for transmissionand reception of the ID information transmitted from the antenna coil 36of the RFID card 32 with the reading unit 14, in other words, at leasteither one of the image pickup device 14 a and the carrier cable 14 b.As depicted in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment, the magnetic shieldingmember 22 blocks the electromagnetic wave for power supply transmittedfrom the transmission coil 18 a and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information transmitted from theantenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32, thereby suppressing interference ofat least either one of the electromagnetic wave for power supplytransmitted from the transmission coil 18 a and the electromagnetic wavefor transmission and reception of the ID information transmitted fromthe antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32 with the carrier cable 14 b. Themagnetic shielding member 22 is provided to the carrier cable 14 b. Inmore detail, the magnetic shielding member 22 may cover the entirecarrier cable 14 b, for example. The magnetic shielding member 22 asexplained above is a soft magnetic material, for example.

The interfaces 24 exchange various instructions and data with externaldevices, that is, the personal computer 48 in the first embodiment. Theinterfaces 24 are used to output to the personal computer 48 at leasteither one of the pickup image data representing the image read surface32 a of the RFID card 32 and the ID information of the electronic tag34. In the first embodiment, the interfaces 24 include the firstinterface unit 46 and a second interface unit 57.

The first interface unit 46 is connected to a scanner controlling unit58 incorporated in the personal computer 48. This first interface unit46 can input a scanner control signal output from the scannercontrolling unit 58 to the first controlling unit 28. Also, the firstinterface unit 46 is connected to the image-data generating unit 16. Thefirst interface unit 46 can output the image data generated by theimage-data generating unit 16 to the scanner controlling unit 58 of thepersonal computer 48. The scanner controlling unit 58 is controlled byan overall controlling unit 60 incorporated in the personal computer 48.

The second interface unit 57 is connected to an RFID controlling unit 62incorporated in the personal computer 48. This second interface unit 57can input an RFID control signal output from the RFID controlling unit62 to the second controlling unit 30. Since the second interface unit 57is also connected to the ID-information obtaining unit 20 via the secondcontrolling unit 30, the second interface unit 57 can output the IDinformation output from the ID-information obtaining unit 20 via thesecond controlling unit 30 to the RFID controlling unit 62 of thepersonal computer 48. The RFID controlling unit 62 is controlled by theoverall controlling unit 60 incorporated in the personal computer 48.

The additional-information input unit 26 inputs additional informationabout the RFID card 32 to the image reading apparatus 10 through amanual operation. The additional-information input unit 26 isincorporated in the controlling apparatus 44. The additional-informationinput unit 26 has a user interface, such as a numerical keyboard ortouch-type liquid-crystal panel. A user of the image reading apparatus10 manually operates this user interface through pressing or the like,for example, thereby inputting additional information to the imagereading apparatus 10. For example, when the RFID card 32 is an ICdriver's license, this additional information is a secret identificationnumber required for obtaining the ID information of the IC driver'slicense.

When at least either one of the pickup image data representing the imageread surface 32 of the RFID card 32 and the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 is output to the personal computer 48 via the firstinterface unit 46 and the second interface unit 57, the firstcontrolling unit 28 and the second controlling unit 30 encrypt at leasteither one of the pickup image data and the ID information for output.

Specifically, when the pickup image data is output to the personalcomputer 48 via the first interface unit 46, the first controlling unit28 encrypts this pickup image data for output. A setting as to whetherto encrypt the pickup image data can be selected by, for example, theuser of the image reading apparatus 10 operating the user interface notshown provided to the controlling apparatus 44. In the first embodiment,it is set that the pickup image data is encrypted by the firstcontrolling unit 28.

On the other hand, when the ID information of the electronic tag 34 ofthe RFID card 32 is output to the personal computer 48 via the secondinterface unit 57, the second controlling unit 30 encrypts this IDinformation for output. A setting as to whether to encrypt the IDinformation can be selected by, for example, the user of the imagereading apparatus 10 operating the user interface not shown provided tothe controlling apparatus 44. In the first embodiment, it is set thatthe ID information is encrypted by the second controlling unit 30.

The carriage 40 moves with respect to the card mounting surface 38. Thecarriage 40 is disposed inside of the housing not shown of the imagereading apparatus 10. This carriage moves in one direction of the cardmounting surface 38, that is, a longitudinal direction of the cardmounting surface 38 (the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1)in the first embodiment, so as to face the entire area of the cardmounting surface 38. As such, the carriage 40 is supported by thehousing of the image reading apparatus 10 so as to freely move. Thecarriage 40 is formed so that the length in the longitudinal directionis longer than the length of the card mounting surface 38 in a directionorthogonal to the direction in which the carriage 40 moves. That is, thewidth of the carriage is set wider than the width of the card mountingsurface 38. Also, since the carriage 40 has the light source 12 and theimage pickup device 14 a incorporated therein, the carriage 40 can movethe light source 12 and the image pickup device 14 a, together with thecarriage 40 itself, with respect to the card mounting surface 38,thereby causing the light source 12 and the image pickup device 14 a toface the entire area of the card mounting surface 38.

The carriage 40 has a motor 64 connected thereto. With the rotationdriving force of the motor 64, the carriage 40 moves in a longitudinaldirection of the card mounting surface 38. This motor 64 is controlledby a motor driving circuit 66. The motor driving circuit 66 iscontrolled by the first controlling unit 28. Therefore, the motor 64 iscontrolled by the first controlling unit 28.

Next, the operation of the image reading apparatus 10 according to thefirst embodiment is explained.

When the controlling apparatus 44 of the image reading apparatus 10receives from the scanner controlling unit 58 of the personal computer48, for example, an instruction for starting imaging of the image readsurface 32 a of the RFID card 32 on the card mounting surface 38, thefirst controlling unit 28 of the controlling apparatus 44 drives thelight source 12 and the image pickup device 14 a. Also, the firstcontrolling unit 28 controls the driving of the motor 64.

The first controlling unit 28 causes the light source 12 to be driven bythe light-source driving circuit 42, thereby causing light to be emittedfrom the light source 12 toward the card mounting surface 38. Also, thefirst controlling unit 28 causes the image pickup device 14 a to bedriven at predetermined exposure intervals. Furthermore, the firstcontrolling unit 28 outputs a motor driving control signal to the motordriving circuit 66 to drive the motor 64, thereby causing the carriage40 to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A with respect tothe card mounting surface 38. That is, the light source 12 emittinglight to the card mounting surface 38 and the image pickup device 14 adriven at the predetermined exposure intervals move together with thecarriage 40 with respect to the card mounting surface 38. With this, theimage pickup device 14 a scans the entire area of the card mountingsurface 38. Before the start of scanning the entire area of the cardmounting surface 38 by the image pickup device 14 a, the carriage 40 ispositioned at either one of ends of the card mounting surface 38 in alongitudinal direction. Upon the start of scanning, the carriage 40moves from the one end toward the other. At the end of scanning, thecarriage 40 is positioned at the other end of the card mounting surface38.

After the image read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 is imaged by theimage pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14, a pickup image signalrepresenting the image read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 is outputfrom the image pickup device 14 a. The pickup image signal representingthe image read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 output from the imagepickup device 14 a is transmitted via the carrier cable 14 b to theimage-data generating unit 16 in the controlling apparatus 44. In theimage-data generating unit 16, the pickup image signal is subjected toA/D (Analog-to-Digital) conversion and other processes and, eventually,pickup image data representing the image read surface 32 a of the RFIDcard 32 is generated.

While the image pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 is imaging theimage read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32, the ID-informationobtaining unit 20 outputs a transmission-coil driving control signal tothe transmission driving circuit 52 via the second controlling unit 30to drive the transmission driving circuit 52 to cause the transmissioncoil 18 a to transmit an electromagnetic wave for power supply. When theantenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32 placed on the card mounting surface38 receives the electromagnetic wave for power supply, the IDinformation of the electronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 is transmittedwith an electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation from the antenna coil 36. Then, when the reception coil 18 breceives the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of theID information transmitted from the antenna coil 36, the ID informationof the electronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 is input via the receivingcircuit 54 to the ID-information obtaining unit 20. In this manner, theID-information obtaining unit 20 obtains the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32.

At this time, in the image reading apparatus 10, interference of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information that would otherwisepropagate to the carrier cable 14 b of the reading unit 14 with thecarrier cable 14 b of the reading unit 14 is suppressed by the magneticshielding member 22 as the interface suppressing unit. Therefore, evenif the ID-information obtaining unit 20 obtains the ID information ofthe electronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 while the image read surface32 a of the RFID card 32 is being imaged by the reading unit 14, aninfluence of the electromagnetic wave for power supply and theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation over the carrier cable 14 b of the reading unit 14 can besuppressed. Therefore, even if the pickup image data of the image readsurface 32 a of the RFID card 32 and the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 are simultaneously obtained, the obtained pickup imagedata representing the image read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 can beof high quality.

Also, in the image reading apparatus 10, an influence of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information over the carrier cable14 b can be suppressed only by providing the magnetic shielding member22 to the carrier cable 14 b. Therefore, for example, an increase inapparatus cost can be suppressed.

Furthermore, in the image reading apparatus 10 of a flatbed type, thetransmission coil 18 a and the reception coil 18 b forming thetransmission and reception antenna unit 18 are provided inside of thehousing including the card mounting surface 38. Therefore, for example,upsizing of the apparatus can be suppressed.

Still further, the image reading apparatus 10 can output at least eitherone of the pickup image data generated by the image-data generating unit16 and the ID information obtained by the ID-information obtaining unit20 (in the first embodiment, both of the pickup image data and the IDinformation) via the first interface unit 46 and the second interfaceunit 57 forming the interfaces 24 to external devices, such as thepersonal computer 48 in the first embodiment. Therefore, for example,the pickup image data and the ID information obtained by the imagereading apparatus 10 can be processed by the personal computer 48 as anexternal device.

Still further, in the image reading apparatus 10, when at least eitherone of the pickup image data generated by the image-data generating unit16 and the ID information obtained by the ID-information obtaining unit20 (in the first embodiment, both of the pickup image data and the IDinformation) via the first interface unit 46 and the second interfaceunit 57 forming the interfaces 24 to the personal computer 48 as anexternal device, the output pickup image data is encrypted by the firstcontrolling unit 28 as an encrypting unit and the ID information isencrypted by the second controlling unit 30 as an encrypting unit.Therefore, should the pickup image data and the ID information leak awayfrom the image reading apparatus 10, the contents of the pickup imagedata and the ID information can be prevented from being known to thirdparties.

Still further, in the image reading apparatus 10, the user interface ofthe additional-information input unit 26 is manually operated, therebyinputting to the apparatus additional information about the RFID card32, that is, a password for obtaining the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 of an IC driver's license in the first embodiment.Thus, when the RFID card 32 is an IC driver's license, for example, thesecret identification number for obtaining the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 can be input only with the image reading apparatus 10.

In the first embodiment, explanation is made by assuming that the imagereading apparatus 10 has the magnetic shielding member 22 provided tothe carrier cable 14 b of the reading unit 14. However, the presentinvention is not meant to be restricted to this. Alternatively, in thepresent invention, a magnetic shielding material may be provided to thecarrier cable 14 b, for example. In more detail, the magnetic shieldingmaterial may be applied to the entire carrier cable 14 b, for example.The magnetic shielding material as explained above is a soft magneticmaterial, for example. Even when the magnetic shielding material isprovided to the carrier cable 14 b, as with the case explained above, aninfluence of the electromagnetic wave for power supply and theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation over the carrier cable 14 b can be suppressed. Also, anincrease in apparatus cost can be suppressed, for example.

An image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention is explained below. FIG. 3 is a cross-section viewseach depicting a main portion of an image reading apparatus according tothe second embodiment. Note that components similar to those in thefirst embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals and aredundant explanation will be omitted.

An interference suppressing unit according to the second embodiment is amagnetic shielding material provided to a casing 68 of the image pickupdevice 14 a. The casing 68 is formed in an approximately rectangularparallelepiped shape. On the bottom of the casing 68, a concave portionis formed, where the image pickup device 14 a is disposed as beingimplemented on a substrate 70 so as to be fixed to the casing 68. Thecasing 68 is made of resin mixed with plastic, glass, and the magneticshielding material. In the second embodiment, the magnetic shieldingmaterial provided to the casing 68 blocks the electromagnetic wave forpower supply transmitted from the transmission coil 18 a and theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation transmitted from the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32.This suppresses interference of at least either one of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply transmitted from the transmissioncoil 18 a and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception ofthe ID information transmitted from the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card32 with the image pickup device 14 a. This magnetic shielding member isa soft magnetic material, for example.

A member denoted by a reference numeral 72 in FIG. 3 is a lens thatguides the light reflected from the image read surface 32 a of the RFIDcard 32 toward the image pickup device 14 a.

In the image reading apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment,the magnetic shielding material contained in the casing 68 as aninterference suppressing unit suppresses interference of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information that would otherwisepropagate to the image pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 withthe image pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14. Therefore, even ifthe ID-information obtaining unit 20 obtains the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 while the image read surface 32 aof the RFID card 32 is being imaged by the reading unit 14, an influenceof the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagneticwave for transmission and reception of the ID information over the imagepickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 can be suppressed. Thus, evenif the pickup image data representing the image read surface 32 a of theRFID card 32 and the ID information of the electronic tag 34 aresimultaneously obtained, the obtained pickup image data representing theimage read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 can be of high quality.

Furthermore, in the image reading apparatus 10 according to the secondembodiment, an influence of the electromagnetic wave for power supplyand the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation over the image pickup device 14 a can be suppressed only byproviding a magnetic shielding material to the casing 68 of the imagepickup device 14 a. Therefore, for example, an increase in apparatuscost can be suppressed.

In the second embodiment, explanation is made by assuming that the imagereading apparatus 10 has the magnetic shielding material provided to thecasing 68 of the image pickup device 14 a. However, the presentinvention is not meant to be restricted to this. Alternatively, in thepresent invention, a magnetic shielding member may be mounted on theimage pickup device 14 a, for example. This magnetic shielding member isa soft magnetic material, for example. Even when the magnetic shieldingmember is mounted on the image pickup device 14 a, as with the caseexplained above, an influence of the electromagnetic wave for powersupply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception ofthe ID information over the image pickup device 14 a can be suppressed.Also, an increase in apparatus cost can be suppressed, for example.

An image reading apparatus according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention is explained below. FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspectiveviews each depicting a main portion of the image reading apparatusaccording to the third embodiment. Note that components similar to thosein the first and second embodiments are provided with the same referencenumerals and a redundant explanation will be omitted.

As depicted in FIG. 4A, a transmitting and receiving unit according tothe third embodiment is a transmission and reception antenna unit 73.This transmission and reception antenna unit 73 is functionallyidentical to the transmission and reception antenna unit 18 explained inthe first embodiment. The transmission and reception antenna unit 73includes a transmission coil 73 a and a reception coil 73 b.

The transmission coil 73 a is functionally identical to the transmissioncoil 18 a explained in the first embodiment. The transmission coil 73 ais provided inside of the housing including the card mounting surface 38of the image reading apparatus 10. In more detail, the transmission coil73 a is disposed over an entire top plate on the carriage 40 side withrespect to the card mounting surface 38.

The reception coil 73 b is functionally identical to the reception coil18 b explained in the first embodiment. The reception coil 73 b isdisposed in a circular shape along the edge of the top plate of theimage reading apparatus 10.

As depicted in FIG. 5, with the transmission and reception antenna unit73 and the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32, a propagation area H1 isformed where at least either one of the electromagnetic wave for powersupply transmitted from the transmission coil 73 a and theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation transmitted from the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32propagate. This propagation area H1 includes a movement path of thecarriage 40. Therefore, at least either one of the electromagnetic wavefor power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission andreception of the ID information has an influence over at least the imagepickup device 14 a incorporated in the carriage 40. To suppress aninfluence of at least either one of the electromagnetic wave for powersupply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception ofthe ID information over at least the image pickup device 14 a of thereading unit 14 positioned in the propagation area H1, a closed-loopcoil 74 as the interface suppressing unit are disposed around thecarriage 40.

As depicted in FIG. 4B, the closed-loop coil 74, which is aninterference suppressing unit according to the third embodiment, isformed by an electrical wire, such as a copper wire forming a coil,being wound one or more times in approximately parallel to the cardmounting surface 38. In the third embodiment, this wire is wound one ormore times around the carriage 40 in approximately parallel to the cardmounting surface 38, and the ends of the wire are eventually connectedto each other.

As depicted in FIG. 5, the closed-loop coil 74 forms a suppression areaH2 disposed in the propagation area H1 where at least either one of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information propagates and amagnetic flux change is suppressed based on the magnetic-flux change inthe propagation area H1. In more detail, when the state between thetransmission and reception antenna unit 73 and the antenna coil 36 ofthe RFID card 32 is changed from a state where the electromagnetic wavefor power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission andreception of the ID information are not transmitted and received to astate where these electromagnetic waves are transmitted and received, amagnetic flux of at least either one of the electromagnetic wave forpower supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and receptionof the ID information passes through a closed loop formed by theclosed-loop coil 74. Therefore, the magnetic flux in the closed-loopcoil 74 is changed. With this magnetic-flux change in the closed-loopcoil 74, in the closed-loop coil 74, an induced electromotive force isgenerated by electromagnetic induction, which causes a magnetic flux forsuppressing a change. An area formed by a collection of magnetic fluxesfor suppressing a change is the suppression area H2. Since thissuppression area H2 is formed based on electromagnetic inductionexplained above, the suppression area H2 is formed only near theclosed-loop coil 74. While the suppression area H2 is being formed, themagnetic flux in the suppression area H2 is varied so as to eliminate amagnetic-flux change of the electromagnetic wave for power supply andthe electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation. In this suppression area H2, at least either one of theimage pickup device 14 a and the carrier cable 14 b is disposed. In thethird embodiment, at least the image pickup device 14 a of the readingunit 14 is disposed.

As in the third embodiment, when the closed-loop coil 74 is located onthe same side as that of the transmission and reception antenna unit 73with respect to the RFID card 32 placed on the card mounting surface 38or when the closed-loop coil 74 and the transmission and receptionantenna unit 73 are on the same plane, the closed-loop coil 74 can beformed so that, for example, the dimension of the closed-loop coil 74 ina short-side direction is smaller than the dimension of the antenna coil36 of the RFID card 32 in a short-side direction, in order not todecrease power-supply capability from the transmission and receptionantenna unit 73 to the RFID card 32. Also, as depicted in FIG. 5, whenthe closed-loop coil 74 is located on an opposite side of thetransmission and reception antenna unit 73 with respect to the RFID card32 placed on the card mounting surface 38, in order not to decreasepower-supply capability from the transmission and reception antenna unit73 to the RFID card 32 by the suppression area H2, the closed-loop coil74 can be disposed to be separated from the card mounting surface 38 sothat, for example, the suppression area H2 does not include the antennacoil 36 of the RFID card 32. Alternatively, it is possible for thesuppression area H2 not to include the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card32 by changing the number of winding of the coil forming the closed-loopcoil 74. In this manner, the closed-loop coil 74 does not partition thepropagation area H1 with the suppression area H2 between thetransmission and reception antenna unit 73 as the transmitting andreceiving unit and the antenna coil 36 as the ID-informationtransmitting unit.

In the image reading apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment,when the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagneticwave for transmission and reception of the ID information aretransmitted and received between the transmission and reception antennaunit 73 and the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32, the magnetic fluxof the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagneticwave for transmission and reception of the ID information passes throughthe closed-loop coil 74, and the magnetic flux in the closed-loop coil74 is changed. The closed-loop coil 74 generates an inducedelectromotive force by electromagnetic induction. In the closed-loopcoil 74, this induced electromotive force causes a magnetic flux forsuppressing a change, forming the suppression area H2 inside of thepropagation area H1 where the electromagnetic wave for power supply andthe electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation propagate. As a result, inside of the suppression area H2,the magnetic flux is fluctuated so as to eliminate a magnetic-fluxchange of the electromagnetic wave for power supply and theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation. In this manner, interference of the electromagnetic wavefor power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission andreception of the ID information that would otherwise propagate to atleast the image pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 with at leastthe image pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 is suppressed by theclosed-loop coil 74 as the interference suppressing unit. Thus, even ifthe ID-information obtaining unit 20 obtains the ID information of theelectronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32 while the image read surface 32 aof the RFID card 32 is being imaged by the reading unit 14, an influenceof the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagneticwave for transmission and reception of the ID information over at leastthe image pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 can be suppressed.Therefore, even if pickup image data representing the image read surface32 a of the RFID card 32 and the ID information of the electronic tag 34are simultaneously obtained, the obtained pickup image data representingthe image read surface 32 a of the RFID card 32 can be of high quality.

Also, in the image reading apparatus 10 according to the thirdembodiment, when the magnetic flux in the propagation area H1 where theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information propagate is changed,in the suppression area H2 where at least either one of the image pickupdevice 14 a and the carrier cable 14 b (in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, at leastthe image pickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14) is disposed, aninduced electromotive force occurring in the closed-loop coil 74 causesa magnetic flux for suppressing a change, thereby suppressing amagnetic-flux change in the propagation area H1. Therefore, it ispossible for the closed-loop coil 74 to suppress an influence of themagnetic-flux change in the propagation area H1 over the image pickupdevice 14 a, the carrier cable 14 b, or both disposed in the suppressionarea H2 (in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, the image pickup device 14 a). Thus,for example, even if the closed-loop coil 74 is not provided so as tocover the image pickup device 14 a, the carrier cable 14 b, or both (inFIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, at least the image pickup device 14 a of thereading unit 14), it is possible to suppress an influence of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information over the image pickupdevice 14 a, the carrier cable 14 b, or both disposed in the suppressionarea H2 (in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, at least the image pickup device 14 aof the reading unit 14).

Furthermore, in the image reading apparatus 10 according to the thirdembodiment, the propagation area H1 where at least either one of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information is propagated is notpartitioned with the suppression area H2 formed of the closed-loop coil74 between the transmission and reception antenna unit 73 as thetransmitting and receiving unit and the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card32 as the ID-information transmitting unit. Therefore, between thetransmission and reception antenna unit 73 formed of the transmissioncoil 73 a and the reception coil 73 b and the antenna coil 36 of theRFID card 32, transmission and reception of the electromagnetic wave forpower supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and receptionof the ID information are not interfered with. With this, the IDinformation of the electronic tag 34 can be obtained without decreasingpower supply to the RFID card 32.

In the first to third embodiments, the transmission and receptionantenna unit 18, 73 is provided inside of the housing including the cardmounting surface 38. However, the present invention is not meant to berestricted to this. For example, in the present invention, in the imagereading apparatus 10 of a flatbed type, the transmission and receptionantenna unit 18, 73 may be provided to the lid member 39 that covers thecard mounting surface 38. Even when the transmission and receptionantenna unit 18, 73 is provided to the lid member 39, upsizing of theimage reading apparatus 10 can be suppressed, for example.

Also, for example, by combining the first and second embodiments or thefirst and third embodiments, an influence of at least either one of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information over both of the imagepickup device 14 a of the reading unit 14 and the carrier cable 14 b canbe suppressed.

Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments, the controllingapparatus 44 of the image reading apparatus 10 has a configuration suchthat the first controlling unit 28 as a controlling unit for pickupimage data and the second controlling unit 30 as a controlling unit forID information are separately provided. However, the present inventionis not meant to be restricted to this. In the present invention, as longas an imaging system including the image pickup device 14 a of thereading unit 14 and an electromagnetic-wave transmission and receptionsystem including the transmission coil 18 a and the reception coil 18 bof the transmission and reception antenna unit 18 (in the thirdembodiment, the transmission coil 73 a and the reception coil 73 b ofthe transmission and reception antenna unit 73) are controlledindependently, a single controlling unit may be provided to thecontrolling apparatus 44, instead of providing the first controllingunit 28 and the second controlling unit 30 to the controlling apparatus44, and this single controlling unit may serve as both of the firstcontrolling unit 28 and the second controlling unit 30.

Still further, in the first to third embodiments, the controllingapparatus 44 of the image reading apparatus 10 has a configuration suchthat the first interface unit 46 as an interface for pickup image dataand the second interface unit 57 as an interface for ID information areseparately provided. However, the present invention is not meant to berestricted to this. In the present invention, a single interface thatcan support both of transmission and reception of the pickup image dataand the ID information with external devices may be provided to thecontrolling apparatus 44, instead of providing the first interface unit46 and the second interface unit 57 to the controlling apparatus 44.

In the first to third embodiments, explanation is made by assuming thatthe image reading apparatus 10 is of an image reading apparatus of aflatbed type. However, the present invention is not meant to berestricted to this. The present invention can achieve effects similar tothose in the first to third embodiments even with an image readingapparatus of an automatic document feeder (ADF) type. In more detail, ingeneral, power supply to the RFID card 32 is a total of magnetic fluxespassing through the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32. Therefore, whenthe transmission coil and the reception coil of the transmission andreception antenna unit is smaller than a closed-loop area formed by theantenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32, in other words, when theclosed-loop area formed by the transmission coil and the reception coilis small, transmission efficiency of the electromagnetic wave for powersupply is significantly decreased, and the amount of magnetic fluxespassing through the antenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32 is not enough toactivate the electronic tag 34 of the RFID card 32. Therefore,communications cannot be made between the transmission and receptionantenna unit of the image reading apparatus and the antenna coil 36 ofthe RFID card 32. To allow communications between the transmission andreception antenna unit of the ADF-type image reading apparatus and theantenna coil 36 of the RFID card 32, the dimension (for example, thewidth) of the closed loop formed of the transmission coil and thereception coil of the transmission and reception antenna unit of theADF-type image reading apparatus is required to be made equivalent tothe size (for example, the width) of the RFID card 32, thereby achievingthe amount of magnetic fluxes passing through the antenna coil 36 of theRFID card 32 enough to activate the electronic tag 34 of the RFID card32. For this reason, in a small ADF-type image reading apparatus, thereading unit and the transmission and reception antenna unit are madeadjacent to each other along a direction in which the RFID card 32 isconveyed, or the reading unit and the transmission and reception antennaunit are disposed so as to be superposed in position each other. As aresult, while the image pickup device of the reading unit of thisADF-type image reading apparatus is imaging the image read surface 32 aof the RFID card 32, when the ID-information obtaining unit outputs atransmission-coil driving control signal via the second controlling unitto the transmission driving circuit to drive the transmission drivingcircuit and cause the transmission coil to transmit an electromagneticwave for power supply, the electromagnetic wave for power supply and theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation disadvantageously have an influence over the reading unit.However, as with the first to third embodiments explained above, byproviding the interference suppressing unit to this ADF-type imagereading apparatus, an influence of the electromagnetic wave for powersupply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception ofthe ID information over the reading unit can be suppressed.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the interferencesuppressing unit suppresses interference of the electromagnetic wave forpower supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and receptionof the ID information that would propagate to a reading unit with, forexample, the image pickup device, the carrier cable, and others. Thus,even if the ID-information obtaining unit obtains ID information of thetag of the RFID card while the image read surface of the RFID card isbeing imaged by the reading unit, an influence of the electromagneticwave for power supply, the electromagnetic wave for transmission andreception of the ID information, or both over the reading unit can besuppressed. With this, an effect can be achieved such that, even ifpickup image data representing the image read surface of the RFID cardand the ID information of the electronic tag are simultaneouslyobtained, the obtained pickup image data representing the image readsurface of the RFID card can be of high quality.

Also, in the embodiments of the present invention, an influence of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply, the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information, or both over thecarrier cable can be suppressed only by providing a magnetic shieldingmember or a magnetic shielding material to the carrier cable. With this,for example, an effect of suppressing an increase in apparatus cost canbe achieved.

Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present invention, an influenceof the electromagnetic wave for power supply, the electromagnetic wavefor transmission and reception of the ID information, or both over theimage pickup device can be suppressed only by mounting a magneticshielding member on the image pickup device or providing a magneticshielding material to the casing of the image pickup device. With this,for example, an effect of suppressing an increase in apparatus cost canbe achieved.

Still further, in the embodiments of the present invention, when themagnetic flux in the propagation area where the electromagnetic wave forpower supply or the electromagnetic wave for transmission and receptionof the ID information is changed, in the suppression area where at leasteither one of the image pickup device and the carrier cable is disposed,a magnetic flux for suppressing a change is caused by an inducedelectromotive force occurring at the closed-loop coil, therebysuppressing the magnetic-flux change in the propagation area. Thus, aninfluence of the magnetic-flux change in the propagation area by theclosed-loop coil over the image pickup device, the carrier cable, orboth disposed in the suppression area can be suppressed. With this, forexample, an effect can be achieved such that, even if no closed-loopcoil to cover the image pickup device, the carrier cable, or both isprovided, an influence of the electromagnetic wave for power supply, theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation, or both over the image pickup device and the carrier cabledisposed in the suppression area can be suppressed.

Still further, in the embodiments of the present invention, thepropagation area where at least either one of the electromagnetic wavefor power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission andreception of the ID information is propagated is not partitioned withthe suppression area formed of a closed-loop coil between thetransmitting and receiving unit and the ID-information transmittingunit. Therefore, between the transmitting and receiving unit and theID-information transmitting unit, transmission and reception of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information are not interferedwith. With this, an effect can be achieved such that the ID informationof the tag can be obtained without decreasing power supply to the RFIDcard.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising: a light source that emitslight toward a card mounting surface where an RFID card is placed, theRFID card having incorporated therein a tag having ID information storedtherein and an ID-information transmitting unit that receives anelectromagnetic wave for power supply and transmits the ID informationwith an electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation; a reading unit that images, based on the light from thelight source, an image read surface of the RFID card on a card mountingsurface side when the RFID card is placed on the card mounting surfaceand outputs a pickup image signal representing the image read surface ofthe RFID card; an image-data generating unit that generates pickup imagedata of the image read surface of the RFID card based on the outputpickup image signal; a transmitting and receiving unit that transmitsthe electromagnetic wave for power supply and receives theelectromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the IDinformation; an ID-information obtaining unit that obtains the IDinformation based on the received electromagnetic wave for transmissionand reception of the ID information; and an interference suppressingunit that suppresses interference of at least either one of theelectromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave fortransmission and reception of the ID information with the reading unit,wherein when the RFID card is imaged by the reading unit, theID-information obtaining unit obtains the ID information.
 2. The imagereading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unitincludes an image pickup device that images the image read surface ofthe RFID card based on the light from the light source and outputs thepickup image signal representing the image read surface of the RFID cardand a carrier cable that transmits the pickup image signal to theimage-data generating unit, and the interference suppressing unitsuppresses interference of at least either one of the electromagneticwave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission andreception of the ID information with at least either one of the imagepickup device and the carrier cable.
 3. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the interference suppressing unit includesone of a magnetic shielding member and a magnetic shielding materialprovided to the carrier cable.
 4. The image reading apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the interference suppressing unit includes one of amagnetic shielding member mounted on the image pickup device and amagnetic shielding material provided to a casing of the image pickupdevice.
 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theinterference suppressing unit includes a closed-loop coil that forms asuppression area disposed in a propagation area where at least eitherone of the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagneticwave for transmission and reception of the ID information is propagatedand a magnetic-flux change is suppressed based on the magnetic-fluxchange in the propagation area, and at least either one of the imagepickup device and the carrier cable is disposed in the suppression area.6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theinterference suppressing unit is disposed not to partition thepropagation area with the suppression area between the transmitting andreceiving unit and the ID-information transmitting unit.
 7. The imagereading apparatus according to claims 1, wherein the image readingapparatus is of a flatbed type, and the transmitting and receiving unitis provided on a lid member that covers the card mounting surface. 8.The image reading apparatus according to claims 1, wherein the imagereading apparatus is of a flatbed type, and the transmitting andreceiving unit is provided inside of a housing including the cardmounting surface.
 9. The image reading apparatus according to claims 1,further comprising an interface for output at least either one of thepickup image data and the ID information to an external device.
 10. Theimage reading apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising anencrypting unit that encrypts at least either one of the pickup imagedata and the ID information to be output when at least either one of thepickup image data and the ID information is output to the externaldevice via the interface.
 11. The image reading apparatus according toclaims 1, further comprising an additional-information input unit forinputting additional information about the RFID card to the imagereading apparatus through a manual operation.